Selector for capsules and other hollow objects having an end wall



Aug. 26, 1969 D. E. H. BOUZEREAU SELECTOR FOR CAPSULES AND OTHER HOLLOW OBJECTS HAVING AN END WALL 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1967 n v m 6, 1969 D. E. H. BOUZEREAU I 3,463,294

SELECTOR FOR CAPSULES AND OTHER HOLLOW OBJECTS HAVING AN END WALL Filed May 29, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 g- 26, 1969 D. E. H. BOUZEREAU 3,463,294

SELECTOR FOR CAPSULES AND OTHER- HOLLOW OBJECTS HAVING AN END WALL Fil d May 29, 19 7 6 Sheets-Shem 5 Fig.4

han E ZI PHI-0r Ly Aug. 26, 1969 0. E. H. BOUZEREAU 3,463,294

SELECTOR FOR CAPSULES AND OTHER HOLLOW OBJECTS HAVING AN END WALL File M y 1967 s Shets-Sheet 4 l omj j (ml al/1 K540 4, .-j. QZZZ- 1 fH or'na 6, 1969 o. E. H. BOUZER-EAU 3,463,294

SELECTOR FOR CAPSULES AND OTHER HOLLOW OBJECTS HAVING AN END WALL Filed May 29. 1967' e Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.6 Fig.9 7

46 42 41 Zi A I l l 7 I 39 39 I I d L ,e e-g I e w a a -L 4 4 4 etaltq 6, 1969 D, E. H. BOUZEREAU 3,463,294

SELECTOR FOR CAPSULES AND OTHEh HOLLOW OBJECTS HAVING AN END WALL Filed May 29. 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 0 K: 7 A c' k un/Q 300251354) A f h Ly United States Patent 3,463,294 SELECTOR FOR CAPSULES AND OTHER HOLLOW OBJECTS HAVING AN END WALL Dam'el Emile Henri Bouzereau, Taverny, France, assignor to Centre de Recherches de Pont-a-Mousson, Pont-a- Mousson, France, a French body corporate Filed May 29, 1967, Ser. No. 641,975 Claims priority, application France, June 17, 1966, 65,886; Mar. 22, 1967, 99,766 Int. Cl. B65g 47/24 US. Cl. 198-33 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A selector comprising a rotor carrying, at a level higher than that of cavitied objects to be selected carried by a rotary plate, selecting elements which are upwardly retractable but biased downwardly and adapted to drive the objects which have their cavities facing upwardly and leave those which have their end walls uppermost on which end walls said elements are movable without driving the last-mentioned objects.

The present invention relates to an improved selector for selecting objects (such as container-closing capsules) having two parallel sides one of which is plane without a projecting portion and constitutes the end wall in the case of a capsule, whereas the other comprises a cavity defined by an endless projecting edge of any shape (circular, polygonal or other shape), this selector enabling these objects to be sorted out into two series, one of the series including the objects whose cavity faces downwardly, the plane side being uppermost, whereas the other series includes those whose cavity faces upwardly, the plane side being lowermost.

Various devices are already known for effecting this selection or sorting out. They employ either formed fingers (system employing a rotary plate) in which case any generatrix of the object does not allow an axis of dissymmetry relative to its length, alternatively flap or traps located in the sliding plane of the object to be selected (system employing vibrations).

All these devices are usually complicated whereas the selector according to the invention is simple in construction and has a much higher output than that of the known devices. Selection is furthermore possible irrespective of the shape of the lateral wall of the objects to be selected.

The selector according to the invention comprises above a rotary plate and at a point which constitutes a junction between an outlet conduit for the objects to be selected and two discharge passages of one or the other series of objects selected, a rotor carrying, at a level higher than that of the objects, upwardly withdrawable selecting elements which are biased downwardly, said elements being adapted to drive those of said objects which have their cavities facing upwardly but leave those which have their end walls uppermost, said elements being movable on said end walls without driving the last mentioned objects.

The rotor therefore enables objects to be selected into two series, namely a series of the objects driven because they are deposited on their end wall and a series of objects which are undriven because inverted with their end walls uppermost.

The selecting elements can consist of balls or vertical cylindrical fingers.

According to another feature, retractable means are provided for positively advancing the objects at the exit of the outlet conduit either independently or not independently of the drive thereof by the selecting elements.

According to one embodiment, these means comprise a set of downwardly biased driving balls which are also carried by the rotor, these balls forming with their support a sort of turntable or star and being adapted to engage laterally with the objects so as to urge them towards the junction.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical partial sectional view in a radial plane of a selector according to the invention in which the selecting elements are balls;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section on line 2-2 of FIG. 3, of the active portion of the selector, this sectional view being on an enlarged scale compared to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the case when, as shown in FIG. 2, a capsule is presented with its cavity facing upwardly;

FIG. 4 is a similar view in the case when a capsule has its end wall uppermost;

FIG. 5 is a partial-diagrammatic sectional view of a selector in which the selecting elements consist of vertical cylindrical fingers;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a selecting finger engaged on a capsule which is in the correct position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the selector with a partial sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and a partial cutaway at a lower level;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic developed elevational view of the selecting fingers and their supporting ramp, and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of a finger raised by a capsule in an incorrect position.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the invention is shown applied to the selection of container closing capsules, C, C C C of conventional type consisting of a wall a of revolution and an end wall b constituting a plane side connected Without projection to one end of the wall a whereas the other end of the latter defines the edge c of the cavity d of the capsule, this edge being located in a. plane parallel to the end wall b.

The wall a can be of revolution about an axis or not, its cross-sections can be circular (as in capsules), oval, or polygonal and the capsule or other object can have a constant or varying cross-section. The capsules C are poured in a heap into the selector, that is to say, with their cavities facing upwardly, as is the case for example of the capsules C shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or in an inverted position, that is to say, with the end wall b uppermost such as the capsules C shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The selector is adapted to sort out the capsules into two series one of which comprises ciapsules whose end walls b are lowermost namely the capsules C whose cavity d is facing upwardly, whereas the other series has capsules Whose end wall b is uppermost, namely capsules C the position of the capsules C being inverted relative to that of the capsules C The selector comprises a horizontal circular plate 2 which is located above a fixed support 1 forming part of the stand and rotatably mounted in a recess 3 in this support 1 so as to rotate about its vertical axis XX. For this purpose the plate is keyed on a vertical shaft 4 and this shaft is journalled in the support 1 by means of a rolling thrust bearing 5 and driven in rotation in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 2) by a motorspeed reducer unit (not shown), for example through a drive comprising a worm 6 and a worm wheel 7.

A fixed cylindrical wall 8 (FIG. 2), having a gap from n to m, forms a ledge on the rotary plate 2 for retaining the capsules heaped on this plate. Just on the upstream side of the point m. a fixed guide 9 constitutes with the corresponding portion of the wall 8 an outlet passage 10 for the capsules to be selected, the entrance of this passage being enlarged owing to the curved or oblique shape of the end 11 of the guide 9. The guide 9 is extended by a tangential portion and cooperates with two other fixed guides 12 and 13 so as to constitute, firstly, a junction 14 to which the passage 10 leads and, secondly, two discharge passages 15 and 16 the first of which is for the capsules, such as C whose cavity d faces upwardly and the second for capules, such as C having their end wall b uppermost.

The capsules are selected by means of a rotor R located immediately after the end m of the wall 8 in the region of the junction 14. This rotor comprises a vertical shaft 17 having an axis Y-Y. This shaft is journalled by means of rolling bearings 18 in a bearing block 19 fixed to the support 1 and is driven in continuous rotation with the rotor assembly R in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 2) by any device. For example, the shaft 17 is connected to the shaft 4 of the plate 2 by a transmission, such as a transmission comprising pulleys 20, 21 and a belt 22 shown in FIG. 1.

The rotor R comprises a support, generally designated by the numeral 24, which is integral with the shaft 7, for example owing to the action of a clamping nut 23. This support consists of a tube 25 fitted on the shaft, a plate 26 and a flange in one piece with the tube 25 or attached thereto by Welding or other means.

The plate 26 is connected to rotate with the shaft 17 and comprises a series of circular apertures 28 and a series of openings 29 which are angularly spaced equal distances apart in each series and in alternating relation from one series to the other.

The centres O of the apertures 28 are at a distance 1' (FIG. 2) from the axis Y-Y. In this embodiment, these apertures have a rebated or stepped profile and each contains a selecting element 30 consisting of a ball which bears on the horizontal shoulder constituting the bottom of the rebate, the part of this rebate which is adjacent the upper face of the plate having a diameter slightly greater than that of the ball, whereas the inside diameter of the shoulder is smaller than the diameter of the ball. It should be noted that the same result could be obtained in giving the apertures 28 an upwardly divergent conical shape the diameter of the balls being between the diameters of the large and small ends of these frustoconical apertures. In either case, the free balls rest at a given height so that their lower pole is at a distance x from the upper face 31 of the plate 2 which is less than the height y of the capsules C (FIG. 3). Bearing against each ball is a weight 32 which is slidable in a tube 33 fixed to the plate 26, or any other equivalent means such as a helical spring or a stack of Belville washers.

The openings 29 are interposed between the apertures 28 so that their centres O are angularly spaced apart equal distances from the centres O of the two adjacent apertures 28 (see angle u in FIG. 2). These openings 29 have their large axes radial and the middles of these large axes (or centres O mentioned herinbefore) are at a distance r from the axis YY which is less than the distance r of the centres A driving ball 34 is engaged in each opening 29.

Each ball 34 is limited in its movements by a baffle consisting of a frustoconical face 35 on the flange 27 and the lower edge 36 of the corresponding opening 29. The two points of contact n and m (FIG. 3) of the ball 34 define on this ball a chord having a length nm which is less than the diameter of the ball.

A weight 37 which is freely slidable in a tube 38 secured to the plate 26 exerts a pressure on the balls. This weight can be replaced by any other equivalent means.

It will be observed that the transmission between the shafts 4 and 17 is such that the plate 2 has a tangential speed slightly higher than that of the plate 26.

The selector operates in the following manner:

The capsules to be sorted out into two sets or series (inverted capsules C and upright capsules C are disposed on the plate 2 (FIG. 1) where they can occupy any one of three positions, namely an inverted position C an upright position C or a reclining position C Owing to the rotation of the plate 2, they become assembled under the action of centrifugal force against the cylindrical wall 8 and are in turn engaged in the outlet passage 10 (FIG. 2). In the gap nm of the wall 8 on the u stream side of the junction 14 the capsules are driven by the rotor R as they assume positions against the balls 34. The latter constitute a sort of driving star and place the capsules under the balls 30. The capsules are then conveyed either towards the passage 15 if they are in the inverted position C since one of the balls 30 enters the cavity d of the capsule (position of the ball 30a in FIG. 2) and then drops into this cavity (position of the ball 30b) and abuts (ball 300) against a generatrix p of the inner face of the wall a of the capsule so as to drive it about the axis of the rotor and abandon it (position of the ball 30d) at the entrance of the passage 15 owing to the fact that the torque produced by friction of the plate 2 on the end wall b of the capsule is less than the torque transmitted by the ball 30 under question which has entered the capsule. FIG. 3 shows this driving position. Alternatively, the capsules are conveyed towards the passage 16 if the capsule is in the upright position C with the end wall b uppermost since in this case the weight of the ball 30 and of the weight 32 (FIG. 4) increases the adherence of the capsule to the plate 2 and the ball 30 rolls along the upper face of the end wall b and the plate 2 drives the capsule towards the passage 16.

If the capsules are in a reclined position for example C on the plate 2 they are returned to a vertical position C or C by the edge of the plate 26 of the rotor R when they arrive in the passage 10 in the region of the plate 26.

The balls 30 are the elements selecting the capsules C C They only drive the capsules C is less than the sage 15 since the frictional torque exerted by the plate 2 against the end wall b of the capsules C is less than the torque transmitted by the balls 30 engaged in the cavity of the capsules C They allow the capsules C to return to the passage 16 owing to the fact that their weight increases the adherence or frictional contact of the capsules C on the plate 2 and that the frictional driving torque exerted by the plate 2 exceeds the torque resulting from the friction of the balls 30 on the end walls b of the capsules C The driving balls 34 constitute the ends of the branches of a driving star and they have for function to constrain the capsules to engage one by one under a ball 30 if they are presented in an incorrect position and to maintain the capsules at a given pitch relative to each other.

The balls have moreover the feature of being capable of retracting along the generatrices of the frustoconical face 35 if one of the passages 15 or 16 became saturated thereby avoiding damage to the capsules.

The weights 32 and 37, which are freely movable vertically, impart to the guiding balls 34 and to the selecting balls 30 their operative force and at the same time render them free to move and flexible so as to enable them to retract when a resistance occurs. This allows complete freedom of movement to the capsules C and avoids any accidental blocking or wedging. These weights consequently afford flexibility and operational reliability and result in a high distributing output of the machine in combination with the balls 30 and 34.

FIGS. 5-9 show a modification of the selector according to the invention provided with selecting fingers, this selector being applied to the selection of closing capsules C for example of polyethylene having a wall a of revolution, or outer skirt, adapted to cap the neck of a bottle, an end wall b and a shallow cavity d, the end e of which is for example a grid or filter. These capsules can be employed, after cutting the end wall d for breaking a stream of liquid passing therethrough and retaining the drops of liquid which might trickle when the bottle is returned to its vertical position and are of utility as pouring caps.

The arrangement of the plate 2 feeding the capsules C the outlet passages or conduits 15 of the selected capsules, and the return passage 16 for the capsules in an incorrect position and the selector is the same as that of the first embodiment.

However, the selector is modified in that it comprises selecting fingers instead of balls. The plate 26 of rotor or turntable R also comprises a series of circular apertures 28 distributed on a circle and surmounted by as many vertical cylinders or tubes 33'. These tubes have an inside diameter greater than the diameter of the apertures 28.

The apertures 28 have extending therethrough cylindrical fingers 39 surmounted by a circular flange 40, a rod 41 and a circular head 42, the head 42 and the flange 40 being slidable in the tube 33 and the flange 40 being in abutting relation to the plate 26 in the lower part of the tube 33.

The rotor R or turntable is completed by a circular ring 43 which has the same axis YY and is fixed to the stand of the machine, for example by a member 44. This ring has internally a circular ramp 45 which extends into each of the tubes 33 by way of a notch 46 at roughly midway up the tube between the circular flange 40 and the head 42 of the fingers 39. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the circular ramp 45 has an upper portion 45a and a lower portion 45b limited to an arcuate sector ks (FIG. 7) between the region of the junction to which the passage supplying the capsules to be selected leads and the region of the junction where the passage discharging the selected capsules starts.

Each finger 39 rests on the circular ramp 45 through a ball 47 interposed between the circular ramp 45 and the head 42. There are as many supporting balls 47 as there are fingers 39. Each ball 47 extending through a notch 46 in the tube 33 is therefore maintained between the inner face of the tube 33, the upper face of the ramp 45, the rod 41 of the corresponding finger 39 and the head 42 of this finger. As can be seen in FIG. 8, when a ball 47 is on the raised or upper portion 45a of the ramp 45, the finger 39 is raised, that is to say, retracted. When, on the other hand, the ball 47 is in the lower position 45b of the ramp 45, the finger 9 is in its lower position, namely its operative position.

The driving balls 34 are arranged as in the first embodiment as can be seen in the FIGS. 5-8.

The selector operates in the following manner:

The capsules C can occupy three positions, namely an inverted position C an upright position C or a reclined position C (FIG. 5). They are to be sorted out into two series, namely a series for the inverted capsuues C and a series for the upright capsules C They are disposed on the plate 2 and, under the action of centrifugal force, become assembled in the supply passage 10 (FIG. 7). They are then presented under the rotor R that is to say, under the fingers 39. They are placed against the balls 34 which constitute a sort of driving star and place the capsules exactly under the fingers. A finger 39 arriving in the region of the junction or selecting region is first raised by the corresponding ball 47 which rolls along the upper portion 45a of the ramp 45 (FIG. 8). This allows it to pass over the edge of the skirt a of a capsule C which is presented in a correct position (C the end wall I; resting on the plate 2. Then the ball 47 engages the lower portion 45b of the ramp 45 and this allows the finger 39 to descend to the operative position in the selecting region defined by the arcuate sector ks. The finger 39 then engages in the cavity d of the capsule. It should be noted that the corresponding ball 47, in combination with the ramp 45 and the head 42,

prevents the finger 39 from exerting the slightest pressure on the grid or wall e which constitutes the inner end of the capsule.

Owing to the large area of contact between the finger 39 and the partition wall or grid e of the capsule C the capsule driving torque exerted by the turntable or rotor R and by the finger 39 exceeds the driving torque exerted by the plate 2, notwithstanding the shallow engagement of the finger 39 in the cavity at of the capsule 0*. This is why the finger 39 maintains this capsule in contact with two coresponding driving balls 34 and conveys this capsule to the outlet passage 15 leading to the bottle-closing machine.

If, on the other hand, it is a capsule in position C that is, in the incorrect position, which is presented under a finger 39 in the passage 10 at the entrance of the arcuate sector ks, the finger 39 (FIG. 9) cannot descend to its lower position until the flange 40 abuts the plate 26. The finger .39 is indeed retained by the end wall b of the capsule C and bears against this wall. In this case, the driving torque exerted by the plate 2 on the capsule exceeds that exerted by the rotor R since it is reinforced by that created by the weight of the finger 39. This finger merely slides on the capsule C which is conveyed 'by the plate 2 to the return passage 16.

-It should be noted that the capsules which are in an incorrect position, such as C or 0*, on the plate 2 and in particular in the passage 16, are put into the correct position and recycled.

As can be seen, the fingers 39 act in a similar manner to the balls 30 of the first embodiment since they retain the capsules which are in the correct position C so as to convey them to the outlet passage 15 and allow the capsules in the incorrect position C to move off to the retaining passage 16. In the latter case the weight of the finger 39 increases the adherence or frictional contact of the capsules C on the plate 2. However, the essential difference between the fingers 39 and the balls 30 of the first embodiment is that the fingers 39 have an area of contact with the capsules in the correct position C which is much greater than that of the balls 30 which only have a point contact, or at the most a line contact, which might be insufiicient if the depth of penetration of the selecting elements in the capsules is small.

However, the fingers 39 have the same degree of liberty in the vertical direction as the balls 30 owing to the sliding thereof in the tubes 33 by means of their flanges 40 and heads 42.

Owing to the circular ramp 45 and to the balls 47, the fingers 39 are automatically raised and lowered so as to pass beyond the edge of the annular skirt of the capsules without striking them and consequently without danger of turning the capsules over. Owing to this combination of the ramp 45, the balls 47 and the heads 42 of the fingers 39, the pressure excreted by these fingers on the capsules C is limited to such value as to retain the capsules without pressing them excessively on the plate 2.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-9, the capsules are selected in a very simple manner with a high output, which increases the ouput of the machine, in particular in the case of capsules which are difficult to seize owing to their shape and/or the material of which they are composed.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for selecting objects, such as capsules, having two parallel sides one of which is plane without projections and constitutes the end wall of the object whereas the other side has a cavity defined by a projecting endless edge, said device sorting said objects out into two series, one of the series comprising those of said objects I whose cavity faces downwardly, the plane side being uppermost, whereas the other series comprises those of said objects whose cavity faces upwardly, the plane side being lowermost, said device comprising a rotary plate for receiving said objects, an outlet passageway, two discharge passageways, a junction between said three passageways, one of said discharge passageways being for one of said two series of objects and the other of said discharge passageways being for the other of said two series of objects; a selector comprising a rotor located above said plate in the region of said junction, said rotor carrying, at a level higher than that of said objects, upwardly retractable downwardly biased selecting balls, said balls being adapted to downwardly penetrate said cavity of those of said objects which have their cavity facing upwardly and shift the last mentioned objects to one of said discharge passageways but leave those objects which have their end wall uppermost, said balls being movable on said end walls without shifting the last mentioned objects.

2. A selector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotor comprises a plate and apertures in said plate for receiving said selecting balls and angularly spaced apart equal distances, each of said selecting balls being movable in the corresponding aperture and downwardly biased against and retained by an edge of the corresponding aperture at such height above said plate as to be engageable in the cavity of those of said objects which have their cavity facing upwardly.

3. A selector as claimed in claim 2, wherein vertically freely movable weights bear against and bias the selecting balls downwardly in said apertures.

4. In a device for selecting objects, such as capsules, having a cavity defined by a projecting edge at one end and a cavity-free wall at the other end of the object, said device having a rotary plate for receiving said objects and a first discharge passageway and a second discharge passageway both communicating with an outlet passageway at a junction, said first discharge passageway receiving those of said objects which have their cavities uppermost and said second discharge passageway receiving those of said objects having their cavities lowermost; a selector for selecting those of said objects having their cavities uppermost and shifting them to said first discharge passageway, said selector comprising a rotatable rotor having an axis of rotation and located above said rotary plate in the region of said junction, means for driving said rotor in rotation, upwardly retractable downwardly biased vertical selecting fingers mounted on said rotor and arranged in a circle on said axis of rotation at such level relative to said rotary plate and in such position relative to said outlet and discharge passageways as to be capable of entering into said cavity of said objects in said outlet passageway which have their cavities uppermost and shifting said objects having uppermost cavities to said first discharge passageway, a ramp extending about said axis of rotation and cooperable with said fingers and having an upper portion for raising the fingers out of engagement with said objects and a lower portion for allowing said fingers to encounter said objects and enter the cavity of those of said objects having their cavity uppermost, said lower portion being limited to an arcuate sector located in the region of said junction, each finger comprising an enlarged head and a ball interposed between said head and said ramp, said head bearing against said ramp through said interposed ball.

5. A selector as claimed in claim 4, wherein each finger is surmounted by a flange, a rod and said head, the fiange and head being slidable in a vertical cylindrical cavity defined by a cylindrical wall and the head bearing through the corresponding ball disposed in said cavity on the ramp, the ramp extending into said cavity through a lateral notch formed in said cylindrical wall.

6. In a device for selecting objects, such as capsules,

having a cavity defined by a projecting edge at one end and a cavity-free wall at the other end of the object, said device having a rotary plate for receiving said objects and a first discharge passageway and a second discharge passageway both communicating with an outlet passageway at a junction, said first discharge passageway receiving those of said objects which have their cavities uppermost and said second discharge passageway receiving those of said objects having their cavities lowermost; a selector for selecting those of said objects having their cavities uppermost and shifting them to said first dis charge passageway, said selector comprising a rotatable rotor having an axis of rotation and located above said rotary plate in the region of said junction, means for driving said rotor in rotation, upwardly retractable downwardly biased selecting elements mounted on said rotor and arranged on a circle centered on said axis of rotation at such level relative to said rotary plate and in such position relative to said outlet and discharge passageways as to be capable of penetrating said cavities of said objects in said outlet passageway which have their cavities uppermost and shifting said objects having uppermost cavities to said first discharge passageway, and means for causing, 'as said rotor rotates, said selecting elements to pass over said cavity-free wall of those of said objects having their cavities lowermost whereby said selecting elements do not shift said objects having their cavities lowermost to said first discharge passageway, retractable means mounted on said rotor, and yieldable biasing means for biasing said retractable means to a position in which said retractable means are capable of laterally engaging said objects in said outlet passageway, for advancing and guiding said objects at the exit end of said outlet passageway, said biasing mea s exerting such biasing force on said retractable means as to enable said retractable means normally to engage and drive said objects but allow said retractable means to retract and no longer drivingly engage said objects when said objects are prevented from being advanced.

7. A selector as claimed in claim 6, wherein said retractable means comprise a set of upwardly movable driving balls carried by the rotor and biased downwardly by said biasing means, said driving balls being laterally engageable with the objects so as to move them towards the junction between the passageways, one behind the other, with a regular interval therebetween.

8. A selector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rotor comprises radially extending openings respectively having lower peripheral edges, said driving balls being disposed in said openings and maintained in position height by bearing against said peripheral edges and by bearing against a corresponding subjacent outwardly downwardly inclined support face which is connected to rotate with the rotor so that each driving ball is radially retractable upwardly out of engagement with the corresponding object if one of the discharge passageways is obstructed by the objects due to a stoppage in the travel of the objects at the exit of one of said discharge passageways.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,176,659 10/1939 Mundy. 

